The peace and tranquillity of Beck Way, Loddon, was shattered at about 7pm on Monday when a man attempted to break into a property.

He had knocked over a wheelie bin and the noise alerted a neighbour who went outside to see what was going on.

The man then ran past the shocked neighbour and into their home.

“It must have been frightening for the neighbour, but the man ran out again into the road and was seen trying to break into other homes,” said a resident who asked not to be named. “He had been cut and was leaving a trail of blood behind him.”

The man was receiving medical treatment yesterday after being detained by police.

Police were called to Beck Way at around 7pm on Monday, to reports that a man in distress had entered a home carrying a gardening knife which he had found outside the property, and caused damage.

He was subsequently reported knocking on other doors in the street. Police were quickly on the scene and a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

He was conveyed to hospital to receive treatment for a number of minor cuts and remains in hospital at this time.